1.

0 Title Of Experiment

The Visible Spectra Of Soft Drinks

2.0 Objectives

 To determine the origin of the colour of a soft drink sample from its absorption
spectrum
 To determine the wavelength at maximum absorbance for a soft drink sample
 To determine the unknown concentration of a soft drink from the calibration curve

3.0 Introduction

Spectroscopy refers to the study of the interaction between electromagnetic

radiation. The word spectroscopy also been used to refer the broad area of science dealing
with the absorption, emission or scattering of electromagnetic radiation by molecules, ions,
atoms, or nuclei. Different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum such as infrared, visible,
ultraviolet, or, X-ray radiation can be used to interact with matter.

White light is a visible light that contains all the colours of rainbow. If white light
hits a coloured solution, the electrons in the solution will absorb some of that light, white the
rest will be transmitted through the solution.

The Spectronic 20 instrument used can correctly be called as colorimeter, because

it measures the absorption of light in the visible spectrum that were perceive as color, and the
technique used is said to be colorimetric. Although the instruments that are used to measure
the interaction of various regions of electromagnetic radiation with matter differs a great deal
in design and operation, they all contain the same basic elements.
4.0 Apparatus

 Beaker
 Pipet
 Glass rod
 Volumetric flask, 50 ml
 Dropper
 Retort stand

5.0 Chemicals

A can of soft drink (red in colour)

6.0 Methodology

A. Preparation of ‘Standard’ Solutions of Soft Drink (Known Concemtrations)

1. Soft drink was poured into a beaker and was stirred to remove the carbonation.
2. 5.00 mL of the soft drink was pipetted into a 50.00 mL volumetric flask and was
diluted to the mark with distilled water. The solution was covered and shook to make a
homogenous solution. The solution was stored in a small beaker.
3. Step 2 was repeated using 10.00 mL, 15.00 mL, 20.00 mL, and 25.00 mL, of soft drink.

B. Operation of the Spectronic 20 and Determination of Maximum Absorption

Instrument: Thermo Spectronic/Genesys 20

Operating Instructions

1. The Spectronic 20 was turned on and waited for the instrument to warm up (minimum
15 minutes).
2. The wavelength was set to 600 nm
3. The transmittance (%T) (Adjusting dark current – nothing should be in the sample) was
adjusted 0%
4. A cuvette was obtained. The cuvette may look like an ordinary test tube, but it is made
of special high quality glass and is much more expensive. The tube was cleaned and
rinsed it with distilled water, the test tube was filled with ¾ full of ‘blank’ solution (the
blank is distilled water from the experiment). Any solution and fingerprints from the
outside of the tube was carefully wiped away using a Kimwipe.
5. 0 absorbance and 100% transmittance was adjusted with the cuvette containing the
blank in the sample holder. The cuvette was removed and without emptying the
distilled water was set it aside.
6. Another cuvette was cleaned and it was rinsed with a small amount of the standard soft
drink whose absorbance is to be measured. Then it was filled with ¾ full with solution,
it was wiped with a Kimwipe and it was placed in the sample holders with hash marks
aligned. The absorbance was read and recorded.
7. The cuvette was removed, the top was closed and the wavelength was changed to a
setting which is 20 nm lower.
8. 0% transmittance was reset if it has changed (sample compartment must be empty).
9. The cuvette of distilled water was inserted and it was reset the 100% T. The cuvette
was removed.
10. The cuvette containing the same soft drink solution used in step (6) was inserted.
11. The absorbance was read and recorded the readings in Table 1.2.
12. Steps 8 was repeated through 11 until 360 nm, taking absorbance readings at each 20
nm interval.
13. The absorption spectrum of soft drink was plotted using graph paper and wavelength
maximum was determined.

C. Preparation of ‘Unknown’ Soft Drink Sample

1. Some of the soft drink was poured into a beaker and stirred to remove the carbonation.
2. The soft drink was poured without measuring the volume into a 50.00 mL volumetric
flask and diluted to the mark with distilled water. The flask was stopper and shook to
homogenize the solution. The colour of unknown solution prepared was make sured
not darker than the most concentrated solution.
 3. The ‘unknown sample’ was put into a cuvette until it was about ¾ full.

D. Quantitative Analysis Of The Soft Drink Solution

1. Spectronic 20 was set to the wavelength maximum obtained.

2. 0 and 100% T was set.
3. The absorbance of each 5 ‘standard’ soft drink solution was measured and recorded.
4. The absorbance of the ‘unknown’ soft drink solution was measured and recorded

E. Cleaning Up

1. The waste was poured down the drain.

2. All cuvettes was cleaned and dried.

7.0 Data

Table 1.2: The Wavelength and Absorbance of Soft Drink

Wavelength (nm) Absorbance

600 0.088
580 0.268
560 0.618
540 0.818
520 0.936
500 0.852
480 0.667
460 0.449
440 0.308
420 0.269
400 0.262
380 0.258
360 0.302
Wavelength Maximum: 520 nm
 Table 1.3: Table of Soft Drink Concentration (Volume %) and Absorbance

Solutions Concentration (volume %) Absorbance

1 5ml (10%) 0.238

2 10ml (20%) 0.436

3 15ml (30%) 0.366

4 20ml (40%) 0.782

5 25ml (50%) 0.936

Unknown sample ? 0.739

Sample calculation for the concentrations of solution 2:

Sxx = Total Xi^2 – (Total Xi)^2

= 5500 – (150)^2

= -17000

Syy = Total Yi^2 – (Total Yi)^2

= 1.869 – (2.758)^2

= -5.738

Sxy = Total XiYi – Total Xi x Yi

= 100.16 – 413.7

= -313.54
M = Sxy/ Sxx

= - 313.54/ -17000

= 0.0184

C=Y-mx

= 0.436 – 0.0184(20)

= 0.068

Y = 0.0184x + 0.068

0.739 - 0.068 = 0.0184x

0.671 = 0.0184x

X = 0.671/ 0.0184 = 36.467%

36.467/ 100% = 0.365 mol/L

Concentration of unknown: 0.365 mol/L

8.0 Results, Calculations and Questions

a) Results

-Refer Attachment-

b) Questions

1. Based on Beer’s Law, when the concentration of an analyte increases, how will the
following be affected (increase, decrease, no change)?

i. Absorbance : the absorbance will increase with an increase in concentration of analyte

ii. Transmittance : the transmittance will decreased with an increase of concentration

2. Why is it important to first obtain the absorption spectrum of the soft drink before
making a calibration curve?
It is important because we need to plot graph absorbance versus concentrations. The
plotted graph used to determine the concentration of unknown soft drink solution. We
can find the concentration of unknown by determining where its absorbance was
crossed the calibration line in our graph. We also can obtained the concentration in the
equation y=mx + c,

3. What is the purpose of using the ‘blank’ solution?

A blank solution is a solution that does not contain a detectable amount of the analyte
of interest. This solution is typically used to calibrate instrument such as colorimeter,
which is used to measured absorbance of light by a special solution. Also, blank
solution trace sources of artificially introduced contamination.

4. What colour(s) is/are being absorbed in your soft drink?

Green

9.0 Discussion

Based on the experiment, the wavelength that been recorded was 520 nm
where the highest absorbance (A) was recorded which is 0.936 which was indicates
that it located at the region of green colour in the visible light. The purpose of using the
blank solution was because solution that does not contain a detectable amount of the
analyte of interest. This solution is typically used to calibrate instrument such as
colorimeter, which is used to measured absorbance of light by a special solution. Also,
blank solution trace sources of artificially introduced contamination Then, using the
same wavelength, but different concentration of the Soft drink solution the absorbance
was recorded and the graph had been plotted with a straight line without any deviation
occur. To identify the concentration of unknown sample, using the Beer’s law graph
the value of absorbance were lined up to the straight line and goes down where the
concentration was founded as 19 ml (38%). It is important to first obtain the
absorption spectrum of the soft drink before making a calibration curve because we
need to plot graph absorbance versus concentrations. The plotted graph used to
determine the concentration of unknown soft drink solution. We can find the
concentration of unknown by determining where its absorbance was crossed the
calibration line in our graph. We also can obtained the concentration in the equation
y=mx + c. When the concentration of analyte increases, the absorbance will increase
and the transmission will decreased. From the graph, the concentration of unknown
was calculated using the standard calibration curve method and 0.365 M was recorded.

In this experiment, there are many errors were recorded such as Spectronic
20 instrument was been used that also called as calorimeter because it measures the
absorption of light in the visible spectrum that we perceive as colour and the technique
used is said to be calorimetric. This instrument needed to be handled carefully due to
the sensitivity in reading sample causing too many fluctuations occur causing the
reading too far from the actual value. Fluctuations of the reading of the absorbance can
be seen in Absorption Spectrum and The Corresponding Absorbed Colours graph
where in 360 nm the value of absorbance was increased immediately due to the small
force applied to the machine which was sensitive towards surrounding area. In
minimizing the error, the force should not been applied eventhough it just touch the
machine or others. Calibrate the pipette carefully to achieve the right volume of the soft
drink accurately and place the eye perpendicular on the meniscus of the apparatus to get
actual reading without affecting the reading of the apparatus.

10.0 Conclusion

From this experiment, we can determine the origin colour of a soft drink
sample from its absorption spectrum which is in green colour at wavelength 520 nm
which are the maximum absorbance. The unknown concentration of soft drink can be
calculated from the calibration curve which was 0.365 M.
11.0 References

1. Hanum, F., Irma, N.A., Ariffin, Z. (2013). Basic Instrumental Analysis: Laboratory
Experiments For An Introductory Course In Instrumental Analysis. Kuala Lumpur.
UITM Press

2. Aziz, E.N, (2014. 12 July). Experiment 1 the visible spectra of soft drinks. Retrieved
from, https://www.scribd.com/document/233619934/Experiment-1-THE-VISIBLE-SPECTRA-
OF-SOFT-DRINKS